"Soon, everyone will be able to use the internet for free to find jobs, get help with reproductive health and other aspects of health, and use tools like Facebook to stay connected with the people they love."

The app is the first product to come out of Internet.org– a global partnership launched last year with the aim of making internet access available to the two-thirds of the world that are not yet connected.

As well as Facebook, founding members include Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung.

"We believe that every person should have access to free basic internet services – tools for health, education, jobs and basic communication," said Zuckerberg.

"Over the past year we've been working with mobile operators around the world to deliver on this goal. We're starting to see this vision become a reality, and we've already helped 3 million people access the internet who had no access before."

But Facebook is not the only company with its sights set on 'the next 5 billion people'. Last month it emerged that Google is planning to invest more than $1 billion (£597m) in a fleet of satellites to bring the internet to parts of the world that are currently unconnected.

Commenting on the news, James Briscoe, chief executive of digital media agency Unique Digital, said that Internet.org will be a force for good in the developing world, providing education and helping farmers predict the weather.

"Zuckerberg realises internet access is not the problem, it’s the fact that people have to pay for it. The internet is still seen as a luxury in countries like Zambia, where a reported 15 per cent currently access the web," he said.

“By giving away access for free, Internet.org will convince people in these African countries of the value the internet can bring."

However, he added that Facebook may choose to pursue a 'freemium' model in the future, whereby people will get basic services for free but end up paying a small amount to stream a video or make a video call.

“Once it is set up, this infrastructure will prove a useful vehicle for bringing in long-term revenue," he said.

The Internet.org app is now available to Airtel subscribers in Zambia. Airtel customers can access this service through the Google Play Store, www.internet.org, or within the Facebook for Android app.

Facebook said it would continue to improve the experience and roll the app out to other parts of the world in due course.